Learn a little Chinese every day
Let’s talk about the delicious food beef and steak in Chinese. Steak is not Chinese food, but hotpot is! If you have a chance to eat hotpot here, you will see all the different choices you get in selecting beef. Here I am going to introduce you 10 different cuts of beef in Chinese. Cuts…
The chicken is a very interesting animal in Chinese culture. The rooster is also regarded as a symbol of “good fortune,” because the word for chicken in Chinese, jī, has a similar pronunciation to the word meaning “auspicious.” For this reason, in some places in Eastern China’s Shandong Province, hens are used as part of wedding…
Grammar Point: Equative verbs connect two equal nouns or nominal expressions, such as “I am a teacher” or “He is John.” The three most common equative verbs in Chinese are 是 shì, 叫 jiào, and 姓 xìng. If you want to negate an equative verb, you should always use 不 bú. 是 shì Is, am,…
Grammar Point:The particle 過过 guò is used to talk about something you have or haven’t experienced in the past. It always goes right after the verb. Structure S + V + 過过 guò + O 我wǒ去qù過guò中國Zhōngguó我wǒ去qù过guò中国ZhōngguóI have been to China. 你nǐ看kàn過guò這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng嗎ma？ 你nǐ看kàn过guò这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng吗ma？ Have you seen this movie before? 我wǒ見jiàn過guò他tā我wǒ见jiàn过guò他tāI have met him before. 我wǒ說shuō過guò嗎ma？？我wǒ说shuō过guò吗ma？？Have I said that before?…
Grammar Point:As you may already know, comparisons in Chinese are typically expressed using 比 bǐ. However, in this article, we’ll explore how to express preferences in Chinese—similar to saying “would rather… than…” in English. Additionally, we’ll introduce three more formal ways to construct comparison sentences in Chinese. Structure – Showing Preference 與与其 + Option A，(S) +…
Grammar Point:To express “even if” in Chinese, we need to use 就算 jiùsuàn or 就是 jiùshì and usually followed by the second clause 也 yě. In this pattern, the first clause is a supposition, which is then struck down as impossible by the statement’s second clause. Structure 就算 + ···，也 + ··· It is an…
Grammar Point:Chinese indicates the existence of something in a particular place by adding the verb 在 zài. In this function, 在 zài can be translated as ‘be in’ or ‘be at’ in English. Structure S + 在 zài + location 我wǒ在zài家jiā我wǒ在zài家jiāI am at home. 老師lǎoshī在zài美國měiguó老师lǎoshī在zài美国měiguóThe teacher is in the U.S. 圖書館túshūguǎn在zài學校xuéxiào的de3 樓lóu图书馆túshūguǎn在zài学校xuéxiào的de3 楼lóuThe library is…
In this article, we are going to talk about some phases to make a good conclusion in Chinese. A clear conclusion can change a reader’s or listener’s mind when they reach the end of your speech. Especially in Chinese, we tend to save the most important information in our last sentence. Now let’s learn some…
The grammar of 東/东 V 西 V has 3 different meanings, depending on whether the order and two verbs you use are the same or not. And notice that all the verbs must be one-syllable verbs. Structure 東/东 + V + 西 + V This structure can be used if want to say you are…
Grammar Point:The word 憑凭 píng in Chinese is a preposition or verb used to indicate “relying on,” “based on,” or “depending on.” It can also express “by means of” or “according to.” It’s versatile and commonly used in formal or semi-formal contexts. Structure 憑凭 píng + N / Noun Phrase + V It indicates using something as…